Ohio State returns to action today after two weeks to stew on its loss to Oregon.
Nebraska
Cornhuskers
The Buckeyes probably would have liked to start getting the bad taste out of their mouth by playing last week, but they’ll begin their second half of the season Saturday fresh off of their second bye week of the season as they host Nebraska in Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State is favored to win comfortably against a Nebraska team that suffered a 56-7 loss to Indiana last week, but the fact that the Buckeyes are also coming off a loss – while dealing with more injuries than they have at any previous point this season – leaves perhaps as many questions surrounding Ohio State entering this game as there has been all year.
We delve into the biggest questions, identify the players we’ll be watching most closely and make some predictions for what we’ll see in the Shoe on Saturday in our pre-Nebraska edition of Last Call.
Questions
Can Ohio State find a pass rush?
Ohio State’s pass rush was nearly non-existent against Oregon, occasionally pressuring Dillion Gabriel but failing to record a sack. With hints from Ryan Day of changes coming defensively, you’d hope that trend changes against Nebraska.
– Garrick Hodge
Who will play at strong safety if Lathan Ransom doesn’t?
We already know that Zen Michalski will make his first career start at left tackle with Josh Simmons out for the season, but there hasn‘t been a clear answer for who will start at strong safety if Lathan Ransom, who was considered “day-to-day” as of Wednesday, doesn’t play against Nebraska.
Malik Hartford is Ohio State’s most proven backup safety, but he’s more of a free safety than a strong safety. Jaylen McClain might be the most natural fit to replace Ransom in the lineup, but he’s still a true freshman. Lorenzo Styles Jr. could be a candidate to move from nickel to safety after Day said this week that he has been getting “more and more reps”; moving Jordan Hancock from the slot to safety while Styles replacing Hancock at nickel could also be an option.
Ohio State can probably afford to experiment with multiple options this week, and it might be smart to do so. Whoever plays strong safety will be tested by Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone II, however, and the Buckeyes need to feel good about their options at strong safety entering next week’s game against Penn State, when they’ll face one of the nation’s best tight ends in Tyler Warren.
– Dan Hope
How does the offensive line hold up without Josh Simmons?
Arguably Ohio State's best offensive lineman is done for the season. Yes, a lot will be on Zen Michalski's plate in replacing Simmons at left tackle, but the offensive line is perhaps the most cohesive and interdependent position group in football. One injury can have a cascading effect as a result of that.
Nebraska has a formidable pass rush, tied for 15th nationally with 21 sacks on the season. Defensive tackle Ty Robinson is tied with defensive end James Williams – a former walk-on nicknamed "Sack Man" – for the team lead with four quarterback takedowns.
The absence of Simmons, who was starting to get first-round NFL draft buzz before he went down, means left guard Donovan Jackson doesn't have as much help to his outside. It means tight ends and running backs chipping to aid right tackle Josh Fryar and other linemen in pass pro might have to do so elsewhere. And an even scarier defensive front is coming next week at No. 3 Penn State.
– Andy Anders
Will Ohio State complete some deep balls?
This week, Ryan Day and Will Howard said Ohio State’s offense has lacked an effective deep ball to this point in the season. They also said the Buckeyes would work on their deep ball in pracctice as the Buckeyes prepared for a Big Ten showdown with Nebraska in the Horseshoe. Was that all talk? Or will the Day, Howard, Chip Kelly and the offense actually look to make passes of 20+ yards a more consistent part of the scheme? We will learn the answer this afternoon against a Nebraska defense that ranks No. 44 in the nation in passing yards per game (208) and No. 43 in the nation in yards per attempt (6.7).
– Chase Brown
Players to Watch
Zen Michalski
It’s the obvious choice, but Zen will be thrust into action following the season-ending injury to Josh Simmons. There’s probably a break glass in case of emergency scenario in play here, but this is Michalski’s first chance to establish himself as OSU’s starting left tackle for the remainder of the season.
– Garrick Hodge
Denzel Burke
Burke’s struggles against Oregon leave Ohio State’s No. 1 cornerback needing to prove himself all over again despite earning second-team All-American honors in 2023. He won’t be able to erase the stain of his dismal performance in Eugene in just one game, especially considering Nebraska’s receiving corps is not at the same caliber as Oregon’s, but a dominant performance against the Cornhuskers could help him get his swagger back and remind everyone what he’s capable of when he’s on his A-game.
– Dan Hope
Emeka Egbuka
On the Ryan Day Radio Show on Thursday, Ryan Day described Egbuka as the player Ohio State turns to when it needs an answer on offense. While I don’t think Nebraska will challenge Ohio State so much that it needs “answers,” I do think Egbuka will be a big part of the Buckeyes’ gameplan in a get-right game. I expect at least one touchdown from the veteran receiver on Saturday, perhaps even two. Heck, maybe I’ll be bold enough and predict one to come via the air and one to come via the ground! Either way, Egbuka will be one of Ohio State’s stars on Saturday. I am confident in that.
– Chase Brown
Jack Sawyer
I put Jack Sawyer down as a player to watch in Eleven Warriors' Ohio State vs. Nebraska preview, and I'm doubling down on that sentiment here. Even with so much emphasis on improving the pass rush, Sawyer has had really good stretches of play this year, leading the team with 22 pressures. Look for Jim Knowles and company to scheme him up some one-on-ones.
– Andy Anders
Predictions
Ohio State picks off Dylan Raiola twice
Raiola is a talented passer, but has shown himself capable of making freshman mistakes in his past two games. I predict OSU will pick off Raiola twice, with Denzel Burke getting one of them as part of his redemption for the Oregon performance.
– Garrick Hodge
Ohio State gets 4+ sacks
No statistic from Ohio State’s loss to Oregon has gotten more attention than the Buckeyes failing to record a single sack against the Ducks. After two weeks of emphasis on improving the pass rush, I expect Ohio State to put much more pressure on Dylan Raiola than it did against Dillon Gabriel and record at least four sacks against a Nebraska offense that’s allowed 13 of them in four Big Ten games.
– Dan Hope
Will Howard throws for 300 yards again
Controversial final few plays aside, Howard was excellent in Ohio State's loss to Oregon last weekend. He went 28-of-35 (80%) for 326 yards and two touchdowns with a rushing score and no turnovers. Nebraska ranks considerably lower in passing yards allowed per game (44th) than in rushing yards allowed (17th), so expect the Buckeyes' passing attack to keep humming this week.
– Andy Anders
Ohio State scores less points and gives up more points than Indiana last week
Fans will have their frustrations about this one, I am sure, but I think Ohio State’s offense will score less than points on Nebraska than Indiana did last week (56). I also think the Buckeyes’ defense will allow more points to the Cornhuskers than the Hoosiers did last week (seven). That doesn’t mean Indiana is a better football team than Ohio State – no, in fact, that’s far from the case. I just think, with a new left tackle and a defense in search of a new identity, the Buckeyes will have more to figure out versus Nebraska than Indiana did a week prior.
– Chase Brown
